A guard rushed to Queen Lili's cell, concern etched on his face. "Your Majesty, what's wrong? You cried out," he asked gently.
Lili remained silent, her eyes fixed on the darkness. The dream still lingered, its meaning elusive. What did those merging stars signify? Was it an omen of death? Fear gripped her, and she pondered the dream's secrets.
The next day, Lili's health began to decline. Weakness seeped into her limbs, and her appetite vanished. The guards noticed her deteriorating condition. "Your Majesty, you must eat," one of the guards urged, offering a steaming bowl. Lili turned away, her eyes sunken.
That night, King Erian's restlessness grew. He summoned Theophilus. "Lead me to the dungeon," he ordered, his voice low. Theophilus guided the king through the dimly lit corridors. Guards bowed as they passed. At the dungeon entrance, Theophilus signaled the guards to grant the king and queen privacy.
The king entered the cell, his footsteps echoing off the cold stone. The only light came from the crescent moon shining through the barred window. Lili lay on the narrow bed, her frail body wracked by fever. The king's heart ached as he approached. He knelt beside her, gently lifting her shoulders.
Lili's eyes fluttered open, her voice barely audible. "My king..." Tears streamed down her face. The king's eyes welled with tears as he felt her burning skin. "Lili, my love," he whispered. "Why haven't you eaten? You have a fever!"
Lili's gaze drifted away, her silence a heavy burden. The king's voice took on a sense of urgency. "Lili, I'm sorry that there's nothing I could do for you but I want to ask you; can you walk quickly? Can you run if needed? I want you to leave this palace tonight." Lili's eyes snapped back to the king's.
"How do you mean, my king?" she whispered. "What will become of you? Please, let me stay. I'm grateful for the delay... execution would have taken place, but you gave me the grace." The king's face contorted in anguish.
"I'd rather die than lose you, Lili," he said, his voice cracking. He hugged her tightly. "I missed you." Lili's chains-bound hands grasped his arm. "I missed you more than you can ever imagine," she whispered back.
The king's eyes locked onto hers. "I'll get you out of here, Lili. Tonight." He called out, his voice firm. "Guard!" One of the guards who stood afar ran inside the cell, kneeling with a knee, he bowed to the king and his queen, "help the queen. I must assign you to do something for me, unlock the chains, King Erian added.
"Yes, Your majesty," he answered.
The king grasped Queen Lili's hands, pulling her gently to her feet. The guards hastened to unlock the chains that bound her wrists and ankles. As the last shackle fell away, Lili's tears burst forth, streaming down her face.
With the king's guidance, she took her first steps out of the dark dungeon, into a world of uncertainty. But the king's grip on her arm halted her progress. He turned her to face him, his eyes burning with longing.
Lili's lips trembled as the king's mouth claimed hers in a deep, passionate kiss. Tears fell from their eyes, mingling as their hearts reunited. The guards and eunuchs discreetly averted their gaze, respecting the royal couple's intimate moment.
As their lips parted, the king's voice cracked with emotion. "You must survive, Lili. Please, you must not die. Eat well and be safe. This is my last act of kindness to you."
A royal female physician entered, accompanied by her assistant and a royal maid. All bowed their heads in reverence.
"Doctor Elara," the king addressed her, "I entrust my wife to your care. Treat her well, as if she were your own sister."
Doctor Elara's face radiated compassion. "Your Majesty, I swear on my oath to care for Queen Lili as if she were my own flesh and blood."
The king's eyes locked onto Doctor Elara's. "To me, you have done great kindness. I shall never forget."
With solemn nods, Doctor Elara and her assistant, the maid and five bodyguards took charge of Lili. They carried medical aids and supplies, ready to tend to the queen's frail health.
As they departed the dungeon hallway, the crescent moon cast its silvery glow above. Unbeknownst to all, the barren queen had conceived, and the prophecy had begun to unfold.
Their procession approached the palace's rear gate, where the gatekeepers stood vigilant. Seeing the physicians' carriage, they assumed it was an urgent call to attend to a patient.
"Who goes there?" a gatekeeper asked, his voice firm.
Doctor Elara presented the royal symbol, and the gatekeepers bowed. "Pass, honorable physician."
The gates swung open, allowing the carriage to exit into the night. The king and his eunuchs had retired to the royal chambers, lost in thought.
As the carriage disappeared into the darkness, the prophecy whispered its promise: a new era would dawn, born of love, sacrifice, and the crescent moon's gentle light.
The next morning, the ministers assembled in the grand council chamber, their faces illuminated by the warm sunlight streaming through the stained glass windows. King Erian, resplendent in his royal attire, sat at the head of the table, his expression serene.
"Good morning, gentlemen," the king greeted, his voice deep and authoritative. "Today's agenda?" The king received the scrolls from the eunuch who stood by, containing the ministers' submissions on trade, commerce and state matters.
Minister of commerce, Xander Burroughs, a stout man with a bushy beard, cleared his throat to begin. "Your Majesty, our reports indicate a surge in trade along the eastern borders. Merchants are optimistic about the upcoming harvest."
The king nodded, his eyes scanning the documents before him. "Excellent news, Minister Burroughs. What suggestions do you propose to further boost trade?"
Minister Burroughs smiled. "We recommend reducing tariffs on imported goods, Your Majesty. This will attract more foreign merchants and increase revenue."
The king's ink pen scratched across the parchment, approving the suggestion. "Very well. Implement these changes immediately."
Just as the meeting concluded, Chief Eunuch Theophilus burst in, his normally composed face etched with worry.
"Your Majesty," Theophilus announced, his voice trembling, "the worst has happened."
The king's expression transformed from calm to shock. "What is it, Theophilus?"
Theophilus hesitated, collecting his thoughts. "The queen... she's gone, Your Majesty. Kidnapped!"
Gasps echoed through the room like a chorus of dismay. The ministers exchanged stunned glances.
The king's chair scraped against the floor as he rose, feigning outrage. "What! Unbelievable! Who dare do this?" His voice boomed through the chamber.
Theophilus shifted aside, allowing the king and his ministers to hasten toward the dungeon.
"This, I shall see for myself," the king declared, his voice firm.
Minister Ravenswood, a tall, slender man with piercing eyes, fell into step beside the king. "Your Majesty, we must investigate immediately."
The king nodded curtly. "Assemble the guards and begin questioning. I want answers."
Upon arriving at the dungeon, they found the guards standing outside, their faces pale.
"Report," the king demanded, his voice firm.
Guardsman Thomas stepped forward. "Last night's shift change... we found the queen's cell empty. The door was open, and our comrades lay injured."
The king's gaze swept the area, his expression a mask of outrage. "Who was on duty?"
Guardsman Thomas hesitated. "Guardsman Leo and Guardsman Jenkins."
Minister Ravenswood's eyes narrowed. "Summon them. We'll get to the bottom of this."